Glands and Immunity

Stimulate the Ajna

This kriya opens the command center. The Ajna, the sixth chakra, sits behind the brow, and it governs the pituitary, the master gland that conducts the whole glandular orchestra. We move the spine, set the navel point, draw the sexual energy of the second chakra upward, and aim it at the third eye, then we seal it with the call of So Hum. Done in sequence, it tunes the glands and turns inner sight on at the source.

Pose 1

Stand up straight. Squeeze your fists tight and lock the thumbs inside them. Let your arms hang at your sides. Gently and carefully let the head fall back and fix your gaze on a single point on the ceiling or in the sky. Inhale, then begin breath of fire. Continue for 2 to 3 minutes. Then inhale deeply as you slowly bring the head forward and tuck the chin in. Hold the breath briefly with the head straight. Then exhale and relax. This sets the magnetic field, wakes the body, and opens the circulation to the head.

Breath: breath of fire
Time: 2 - 3 minutes
Benefits: This exercise sets the magnetic field, alerts the body and opens the circulation to the head.

Pose 2

Triangle Pose. Support yourself on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, lift your hips high, and make a triangle with the ground. Your body runs in a straight line from the heels to the buttocks and from the buttocks to the wrists. Keep the head in line with the body, and set the arms about 2 feet apart. Hold here with long, deep breathing for 2 to 3 minutes. Then inhale. Exhale and apply mool band. Hold the breath out briefly. Inhale and relax. This aids digestion and strengthens the nervous system.

Time: 2 - 3 minutes
Benefits: This exercise aids in digestion and works to strengthen the nervous system.

Pose 3

Bow Pose. Lie on your stomach. Reach back, bend the knees, and grab your ankles. Inhale and arch the spine fully, pulling on the ankles, until only the pelvis, abdomen, and lower chest stay on the ground. Tilt the head all the way back. Breathe long and deep in this position for 1 to 3 minutes. Then inhale, gently stretching the spine. Exhale and relax. This also aids digestion while opening the central nerve channel of the spine.

Breath: Breathe long and deep
Time: 3 minutes
Benefits: This exercise also aids in digestion, while opening the central nerve channel of the spine.

Pose 4

Stretch Pose. Lie on your back with the legs together. Point the toes and raise the heels 6 inches. Stretch the arms out straight, pointing at the toes, and raise the head and shoulders six inches. Stare at your toes. Hold this and begin breath of fire, continuing for 1 to 3 minutes. Inhale and hold briefly. Exhale and relax. This activates and balances the energy of the third chakra, sets the navel point, and tones the abdominal muscles.

Breath: breath of fire
Time: 1 to 3 min
Benefits: This exercise activates and balances the energy of the third chakra, sets the navel point and tones the abdominal muscles.

Pose 5

Sit on your heels. Inhale and, keeping the head straight and the shoulders relaxed, flex your spine as far forward as you can (5A). Exhale and flex it back in the opposite direction (5B). Begin slowly and continue rhythmically with the breath for 1 to 3 minutes. Inhale in the forward position. Exhale and relax. This further prepares the spine for the exercises that follow.

Time: 1 to 3 minutes
Benefits: This exercise further prepares the spine for the exercises to follow.

Pose 6

Sit on the heels. Spread the knees wide. Bring the forehead to the ground. Rest the palms of your hands on the soles of your feet. Focus at the third eye and consciously relax while keeping the breath normal. Continue for 5 to 20 minutes. Then take several deep breaths and slowly come out of the position. This subtly draws the sexual energy of the second chakra up to stimulate the Ajna, the sixth chakra. It also cleans the eyes.

Time: 5 to 20 minutes

Pose 7

Bundle Roll. Lie on your back with your arms pressed tightly against your sides and your legs bound together like a bundle of logs. Keeping the body straight, begin rolling over and over across the room, to one side and then to the other. Continue for 3 to 5 minutes. Then relax. This stimulates the entire body. It balances the magnetic field and massages the muscles. Do not do Exercise 6 unless you follow it with this exercise.

Time: 3 to 5 minutes
Benefits: this exercise.

Pose 8

Sit in a comfortable position with the spine straight and the hands in Gyan Mudra, thumbs and index fingers touching, the other fingers straight out. Lock the chin so the head sits straight on the spine. Inhale deeply. As you exhale, chant the word "So" (rhymes with "go"), extending the sound as long as possible and dividing it into 7 waves, 7 undulations, each one of 5 beats, for a total of 35 beats. Complete the exhale by chanting the word "Hum" (rhymes with "room") briefly, for the duration of 1 beat. Then inhale and repeat the chant. Chant from your heart, and mentally spiral the sound up the spine and out the top center of the head. Continue for at least 3 minutes. Then inhale. Hold b

Time: 3 minutes

Pose 9

Deeply relax. A note on the whole kriya: it works to gently stimulate and balance the glandular system, especially the pituitary gland, which is tied to the Ajna, the sixth chakra. Beginning students may practice this kriya once or twice a week, but no more, as a glandular tune-up.